Electric switch.



C. A. BATES.

ELECTRIC SWITC H. APPLICATION FILED IULYZI, I913.

1,217,688. Patented Feb. 27, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

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C. A. BATES.

ELECTRIC SWITCH..

APPLICATION FILED IULYZI. I913.

1,217,688. Patented Feb. 27, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

V A \J L 44 0170470 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

CLARENCE A. BATES, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE BRYANTELEC- TRIC COMPANY, OF BRIDGEIPORT, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OFCONNECTICUT.

' ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 27, 1917.

Application filed July 21, 1913. Serial No. 780,283.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLARENCE A. Barns, a citizen oi? the United Statesof America, and residing in the city of Bridgeport, in the county ofFair-field and State of Connecticut, have invented a certain new andImproved Electric Switch, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to an electric switch and particularly toa switch of the remote control type, the object of my invention being toimprove the same in the features hereinafter pointed out and illustratedin the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of aswitch body with the switch mechanism removed;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the switch mechanism adapted to bepositioned in the switch body shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33, Fig. 1 with the metal switchsupporting end lugs omitted;

Fig. 4 is an inverted plan of the switch body;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section showing the position of the solenoidcasing;

Fig. 6 is a plan of an installation in which the present switch isadapted to be used;

Fig. 7 is a vertical section on line T7, Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a diagram of the connections through the switch in aninstallation of the type shown in. Fig. 7.

In solenoid coil switches of the present type it is customary to controlat least one branch of the circuit by means of a solenoid, the circuitthrough which it is completed at a remote point. In certain commonlyused switch constructions, the solenoid circuit is interrupted only atthe remote control point so that the circuit through the solenoid winding continues even after the switch has been actuated thereby, providedthe circuit re mains closed at the remote control point. This isattended by certain dangers, such as the burning out of the solenoidcoil as well as unnecessarily consuming current, since the function ofthe solenoid is completed upon the actuation of the switch.

In my improved switch mechanism I have provided means for automaticallyinterrupting the solenoid circuit upon the actuation of the switch, thecircuit being again established upon the return of the switch to itsoriginal position.

In the form here illustrated the switch comprises an insulating cup 10having wire terminals 11, 12, 13 and 14 for the main and branchcircuits, the switch mechanism being of the four point type. Theoperating mechanism is of common snap switch type in its main features,and is mounted upon an insulating plate A carrying pairs of contact bars15 and 16 adapted to electrically engage the uprights oi the wireterminals 11 to 14 inclusive. Pairs of switch contacts 17 and 18cooperate with a pair of switch bars 19 electrically connected togetherby the cross strap 8 after the fashion shown in my prior Patent1,127,379. A push button 20 is employed to operate the switch mechanismin one direction, while a solenoid core 21'operates it in the oppositedirection, the stem 22 of the core engaging the rocker 23 of the switchmechanism in substantially the same manner as the stem of the button 20.The solenoid core 21 passes through a hole 2% in the base of thereceptacle and enters the solenoid coil 95. One end 26 of the coil isled directly to the remote control switch X, while the other end 27 ofthe coil is led through the perforation 28 in the bottom of the switchbase to a wire terminal 29 located in the switch chamber andelectrically connected by the strap 30 to the upright 3' A strap 32carried by the switch mechanism is electrically connected with theupright 31 in the adjusted position of the switch and leads the currentto the supplemental switch terminal 33. A second supplemental terminal34 is formed in one of the uprights 15 so that in the oil position orthe switch (as regards the main switch terminals 17*] S) the switch bar19 connects the terminals 33, and thus leads the current from the mainterminal 12 through the supplemental terminals 34, to the upright 31 andthus through the solenoid coil. In this position therefore the switch isin readiness for operation through the coil 25, from the remote controlswitch X and upon completion of the circuit at said remote controlswitch, the flow of current through tie coil draws down the solenoidcore 21 and thus shifts the switch blade 19 to the position shown inFig. 2.

Obviously upon the pull of the core and the shifting of the switch blade19 to the position shown in Fig. 2, the circuit through the solenoidcoil is broken between the contacts 33, l and is not reestablished untilthe switch u been returned to original position by the depression of thepush button 20.

An. installation in which a construction of this sort is of value isillustrated in Figs. (1 and T. This construction is particularly usefulin hospitals where the solenoid coil circuit is controlled by a lightpush switch on the end of a flexible cord within reach of the patientsbed. The patient needs but to touch this switch to energize the solenoidcoil which thereupon draws down the solenoid core 21 and actuates thesnap switch mechanism arranged in any convenient position in the wallnearby. This serves to operate a call to the attendant, who, uponreaching the bedside, returns the switch to its original position bypressing the button 20. A bulls-eye indicator lamp may be arrangedbeside the switch mechanism to indicate its operation. The attachmentplug receptacle 36 allords a convenient means for connecting in theremote control switch 92 (see Fig. 8).

Since the lamp must be more or less frequently replaced, it is highlyadvantageous to have the portion 37 of the face plate detachable fromthe body of the face plate 38, so that access may be had to the lampwithout disturbing the entire installa tion. For this purpose I providelugs 39 at the edges of the aperture 40 in the main face plate in whichthe bulls-eye plate 37 is adjusted, and oifset the edges of the bullscyeplate 37 at ell to cooperate with shoulders 39. Plates 42 at each end ofthe lamp receptacle receive the screws 4-3 by means of which the plate37 is held in position.

Various modifications of the construction will readily suggestthemselves, and I do not limit myself to the precise details of theconstruction shown.

I claim as my invention 1- 1. In an electric snap switch, an insulatingbody having a plurality of wire terminals, a. removable insulatingmember carrying main and auxiliary switch contacts, said contacts beingelectrically connected to their appropriate wire terminals in theassembled position of the parts, a bridging conductor carried by saidremovable member and connecting the auxiliary contacts in one position,and the main contacts in another position, manually operated means tomove said bridging conductor into the position in which it connects theauxiliary terminals, and electromagnetic means, operative in the latterposition of the switch, to shift the bridging conductor into connectionwith the main switch contacts.

2. In an electric snap switch, an insulating body having a plurality ofwire terminals, a removable insulating member carrying main andauxiliary switch contacts, said contacts being electrically connected totheir appropriate wire terminals in the assembled position of the parts,a bridging conductor carried by said removable member and connecting theauxiliary contacts in one position, and the main contacts in anotherposition, manually operated means to move said bridging conductor intothe position in which it connects the auxiliary terminals, andelectro-inagnetic means, operative in the latter position of the switch,to shift the bridging conductor into connection with the main switchcontacts, said electromagnetic means comprising a solenoid coreoperatively connected to the bridging conductor.

In an electric snap switch, an insulating body having a plurality ofwire terminals, a removable insulating member carrying main andauxiliary switch contacts, said contacts being electrically connected totheir appropriate wire terminals in the assembled position of the parts,a bridging conductor carried by said removable memher and connecting theauxiliary contacts in one position, and the main contacts in anotherposition, a solenoid winding connected with one of said auxiliarycontacts and arranged below the body of the switch, the latter beingapertured in line with the axis of the solenoid winding, a push buttonfor operating said bridging member in a direction to connect theauxiliary contacts, and a solenoid core passing through the bottom ofsaid insulating body and into said winding for operating the. bridgingmember in a direction to connect the main contacts.

sulating electric snap switch having an in body with line terminals anda solenoid circuit terminal thereon, in combination with a removablemember carrying a pair of main switch terminals adapted to engage andelectrically connect with the line terminals on the switch body, asolenoid switch terminal adapted to engage and electrically connect withthe solenoid circuit terminal on the switch body, and a second solenoidswitch terminal electrically con nected to one of said switch terminalson said removable member, together with a switch bar arranged to connecteither a pair of main switch terminals or the solenoid switch terminals,manual means for moving said switch bar into position to engage thesolenoid switch terminals and a solenoid core subject to the current inthe solenoid llO circuit connected to said bar for moving the latterinto engagement with the main switch terminals, substantially asdescribed.

5. In an electric snap switch, an insulating body having a pair of mainline terminals, an independent terminal for an auxiliary circuit, aremovable member carrying main switch contacts and an auxiliary switchcontact, the main switch contacts in adjusted position engaging the mainline terminals and the auxiliary switch contact engaging the auxiliarycircuit terminal, and manually operated means for establishing theauxiliary circuit through the switch and electromagnetic means forestablishing the main circuit through the switch, substan tially asdescribed.

6. In an electric snap switch, an insulating body having a plurality ofwire terminals, main and auxiliary switch contacts connected to theirappropriate wire ter minals, a bridging conductor connecting theauxiliary contacts in one position and the main contacts in anotherposition, manually operated means to move said bridging conductor intothe position in which it connects the auxiliary terminals andelectromagnetic means, operative in the latter position of the switch,to shift the bridging conductor into connection with the main switchcontacts.

7. In an electric switch, an insulating body having four main switchcontacts, and two auxiliary switch contacts, one of which iselectrically connected to one of the main switch contacts, a solenoidcoil connected at one end to the independent auxiliary switch contact, apair of switch blades electrically and mechanically connected together,manually operated means to move said blades into position to connect theauxiliary switch contacts, and a member operative upon the energizationof the solenoid circuit, to shift said blades into position to connectthe several main switch contacts.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

CLARENCE A. BATE S.

WVitnesses H. WV. IVIEBERT, L. B. WVHEELER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0.

